Understanding Islam

          In our post-9/11 world, we see that Islam has become one of the hot beds of discussion for just about every person in every socioeconomic class in America.  If September 11th, 2001 taught us anything as a nation and people, it is that religion can be an insurmountable force with jagged and dangerous edges at every corner. With all the talk of Jihad and radical Islamic fascism, it seems as though Islam had been placed on the front pages of internet media outlets, local newspapers, church bulletins and even little Johnny’s homework assignment. 

          It would seem that with all the media coverage and coffee shop talk that encompasses this religion that everyday, ordinary folks would be educated in the ideologies and basic tenets of faith that Islam claims to uphold.  This, however, is far from the truth.  Most people in America don’t even know what they believe, let alone some Middle Eastern religion steeped in traditions and concepts of a seemingly far away, fairy tale like land.

 TACTILE TACTICS

          We must learn the devices (or weapons) that the enemy is using or will use against us in order to be effective in a strategically minded struggle.  If America thought that the Germans had full nuclear capability in World War II, they probably would have fought a different fight.  If Goliath knew that a insignificant stone could be so effective in battle, and that one would be used to knock him on his face, he probably would have carried a sling instead of a spear.

          The Apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, inferred that he had the beginning makings of a great military general when he wrote this statement concerning Satan’s tactics:

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 Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Cor. 3:11 NKJVWe don’t want Satan to win any victory here, and well we know his methods! (J.B. Phillips) 

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          Centuries ago, armies would capitalize on weaknesses that they could manipulate in order to secure a more timely victory.  On one occasion, a military commander decided to attack his enemy while they held their private prayers to their god.  They figured that these armed men would be less apt to fight and would be the furthest away from their weaponry during their ritualistic prayer time. Their sentiments proved valuable and the conflict ended abruptly.  This is why knowing the enemy, his strengths, weaknesses and beliefs can be the determining outcome in any skirmish.

          Christians, by comparison, also need to understand the basic principles and doctrine that those in the Islamic faith follow; not only to be aware of potential threats, but more importantly to fulfill the great commission.  These succeeding words are quite possibly some of the most important words for Christians on this side of heaven:

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 Go into all the world [even Muslims] and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 NKJV (bracketed emphasis mine). 

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          When Paul preached his sermon at Mars Hill to the Athenians, he had studied, or was at least acquainted with the Greek poets and philosophers with whom his audience was accustomed.  He even quoted a well-known poet to the crowd to back up what he was saying from their custom.

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 …In Him (Jesus) we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’v. 34…some men joined…and believed. Acts 17:28,34 NKJV (parenthetical insert mine).        

   Paul was revealing Christ through something that was familiar to them.  They had an instant connection with Christ because Paul took the time to acquaint himself with their culture.  Even Jesus used this method of evangelism on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24).  After Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead He appeared to two men on the way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  As He talked with them on the way, He expounded to them all the things concerning Himself from the Old Testament Scriptures.  He used something that they were familiar with to reach out and squeeze the blood from their calloused heart.  This is a model for us all to follow.  That does not mean that you need to have a Ph. D. in world religions to reach out to a Muslim neighbor, it simply means that we should all take the time to brush up on their basic tenets to become even more effective in our witness for the Lord.  In fact, when I know that I will be having a conversation with someone from a different faith, I read up on their beliefs to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their religion.  I would highly recommend this to anyone that is sincere in wanting to fulfill the great commission.  We are all called to reach out and evangelize the “world”.  

  FOUNDING AND FOUNDER

          Even though Islam is not the apex or goal of Western civilization and culture, it is among many nations of the world.  Most recently, several surveys have indicated that more than 35 nations are comprised of at least an 80% Muslim population, and the trend is not slowing.[1] All nations have either been directly or indirectly influenced by this religion and most nations in the Middle East, with the exception of Israel, are actually controlled politically by Islam.  You might even say that the Middle East IS Islam; or, Islam IS the Middle East.  That means an entire sub-continent is under the control of one religion and, contrary to the popular news media, this is a violent religion you don’t want in control. 

          In this section we will be covering some of Islam’s history and beliefs.  Because many books have been written that provide exquisite detail on the beliefs of Islam, it is only my intent to briefly touch on the main points to bring clear, concise, accurate and useful information in regards to witnessing the Christian faith to our Muslim friends.  This should serve as a basic overview and most definitely should not replace a good book on the world’s religions in respect to Islam.

          Islam (meaning submission) was instituted almost six centuries (622 AD) after Christianity was formally indoctrinated as a religion, and its founder was a man named Muhammad.[2]  Muhammad was born in 570 AD into a tribe call the Quraysh, which had power over the city of Mecca.[3]  Mecca served as a central capital of sorts for the then polytheistic religion of the Arab world.  The Arabs at that time had several tribes which all believed in a different god, 360 to be exact.[4]  Each tribe believed that a black shrine in Mecca, called the Ka’bah, housed their god.  This shrine is actually a black stone meteorite that can still be found in their holy city.  In ancient times, people worshipped meteorites because they fell from the heavens.[5] No doubt, these tribes identified the black stone as a holy material sent from their god.

          When Muhammad was a young man he found favor from a widow after being employed by her to watch over a caravan of camels.  Shortly after they were married.  Muhammad and his wife, Khadija remained in the city of Mecca, where he became a spiritual leader of his tribe.  Among his rituals was to take a yearly journey to Mt. Hira where he would become concealed in a cave to meditate on the things that pertained to his tribe’s god.  At one of these retreats, at the age of forty, Muhammad had a truly spiritual encounter- a demonic encounter.[6]

          While Muslims teach that the angel Gabriel visited Muhammad, it is recorded in history books that Muhammad himself thought that his visitation on that mountain retreat was from a demon.  He believed that he was possessed by this demon as he crawled back to his wife in convulsions to confirm his suspicions and settle the matter once and for all. It wasn’t until his wife suggested that he should visit her Christian cousin, who convinced Muhammad that he had had an encounter with the angel Gabriel, that he proclaimed himself as the true prophet and seal of Allah.[7]  This is when he made the audacious claim that Allah-the god of the Quraysh-was superior to the 359 other gods at the Ka’bah and was the creator of mankind.  Shortly after this claim, Muhammad and his wife were forced to flee Mecca.  Eventually, after several military campaigns against Mecca, Muhammad was able to unite the tribes to believe and accept Allah and force the religion of Islam upon the entire peninsula.[8]